When developing a new product, it’s not enough for your family and friends to say they love it. The problem is they generally don’t want to hurt your feelings and will tell you that your idea is sheer creative genius even if they think it’s the most ridiculous thing they’ve ever seen. This is the time for a product development survey.

Find out the potential customer’s initial reactions to the product. What is their level of need for it? Would they kill for it or would they never consider removing it from a shelf? Would they want to receive it as a gift?

Surveys Are a Pass or Fail Clue

This is where a product development survey can help. You will receive objective comments and constructive criticism that will give you an indication of if your product is deserving of financial success or the bottom of a trash can. Once you find out how people feel about your product you can make adjustments to improve it or start all over at the creative drawing board.

A survey might consider the frequency of use. If a lot of people say they’d never use it, that’s a big indication that your product may be headed toward the round file. Ask the customer if they’d consider using your product over their usual brand.

An important question to ask is what would make someone want to purchase your product. There are quite a few considerations that can be used to entice a new buyer:

Value your product offers

Quality of you product

Product performance

Ease of purchase

Good warranty

Level of customer service

Product variety

Ask a customer’s preference on how they’d go about making a purchase. Would they buy online or want to visit a physical store? Maybe they’d rather pick up the phone or really do it the old fashioned way and send a check in a letter.

Ask your potential customers what method of advertising would get them to buy your product. What would they choose?

Testimonies from other customers

A friendly company representative in sales or service

An industrial publication

Television advertising

Trade shows or related events

Newspaper advertising

Online advertising

Special offers, like rebates or longer warranties

It’s important to ask a person what they like most about your product, but gather the courage to ask what they don’t like about it, too. Phrase the question more optimistically, “What do you like the least about this product?”

You might not like the results of a survey, especially if after investing countless hours you find that you’re the only one with an interest in your product. But you could save money on any further investment or find that you need to take out a really big loan when you conduct a proper product development survey.